EIN E-Alert #255 ... NOVEMBER 2009

All the recent Elvis News and more..

Hi Everyone,Welcome to the full NOVEMBER 2009 E-Alert packed with amazing photos, reviews and news.

As usual our ELVIS EIN-driven life was disrupted since I had to go overseas twice in the last 2 months for work, hence the little delay.

However this means that this E-Alert is PACKED with even more recent exclusive EIN Elvis news, interviews, reviews, unique photos - and an abundance to read!

But firstly - EIN WANTS TO KNOW ...

YOUR choice of "The Best Elvis Highlights of the Past Decade!": In less than two months time the world enters a new decade. With 10 years of the new millennium almost gone EIN thought it time to look back at the major Elvis highlights, music and non-music related, during the decade. And we want you to tell us what the highlights were!

will compile a list of the most popular (by category) and publish an article around them, followed by a series of qualifying polls (Major Moment/Best Music Release/Best Non-Music Release) and culminating in a final poll to decide the #1 Elvis Highlight of the Past Decade.

Let EIN know what you think are the Elvis highlights by clicking here. There is no limit on how many highlights (or lowlights) you can nominate.

Nominations close 25 November 2009

- Also Coming up in the next few weeks on the EIN website watch out for ..

The Variety site mentions a new Elvis Presley venture for 2010:"The following year [2010] will bring ... a touring version of the [Vegas resident] Elvis show to play Europe." The working title is "Elvis 2010".

A previous CXK press-release mentions "One new Elvis Presley Project will open each year from 2009-2015".
Viva Elvisopens on December18 in Las Vegas. The show will fuse dance and acrobatics, live music and iconic tracks, nostalgia and modernity, high technology and raw emotion.

The choreographer is Michael Paterson. (See details below)

Sony Australia to release Elvis Presley 50 Australian Top Ten Hits 1956-1977:In 2001, EIN proposed to what was then Sony BMG, that they release a compilation of Elvis's Top 10 Hits in Australia. While many Elvis greatest hits compiles have been released (and continue to be released) around the world, there were a number of songs which had been a hit in Australia but not in most other countries, giving an Aussie compile a point of difference to other such releases........#1 and top 10 songs including Ask Me; Ain't That Loving You Baby; Viva Las Vegas; Such A Night; Judy; Blue River; Edge of Reality; Separate Ways; Don't Cry Daddy; I've Lost You and The Next Step Is Love.

Finally, in 2010, Sony Music (Australia) is to release a double album of Elvis's Top 10 Hits in Australia. While the full track listing has not been announced, limiting the release to 50 Top Ten hits means more than a dozen Top Ten hits in Australia miss the cut.
We can only hope Sony includes songs not usually included on the usual 'greatest hits' compiles to make its Aussie release distinctive! And we can only hope that the release, a very worthwhile one, gets the promotion it deserves! The official Sony press release states that between 1959 and 2002 Elvis had 120 chart topping releases.......EIN is unsure how Sony arrived at this very high number.

Sonny West working on new Elvis biopic "Fame & Fortune": According to recent press reports ... "Elvis Presley is set to star on the big screen from beyond the grave - the rock 'n' roll legend's former bodyguard will tell all in a forthcoming biopic about his life with the tragic entertainer!"
The former bodyguard of Elvis Presley has agreed to give a tell-all account of his life with the iconic singer for a forthcoming biopic.
Presley's ex-security guard Sonny West will reveal his behind-the-scenes perspective of the troubled star's rise to fame and struggle with drug addiction in new film Fame & Fortune, reports Daily Variety.
West was employed by the musician from 1960 until 1976, one year before he suffered a fatal heart attack in his Graceland mansion.
Presley's former associate will also co-produce and co-write the movie as part of the deal signed with Toronto-based company RLF Victor Productions for the feature-length film Fame & Fortune. Go here for EIN's exclusive interview with Sonny West.

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Poplar Tunes closes its doors: Sad news from Memphis. Without any advanced notice, Polar Tunes has closed it's doors yesterday. The record shop was visited by a young Elvis and they were the first to sell his records. The historical location was a regular stop during our Graceland Tours. Once again, a pice of history in Elvis' hometown is gone. The store is a victim of changing music tastes, digital downloads and the Internet.

Over 98 percent of the pictures are casual candids just a few are professionally posed pictures.They are both 8x10’s and snapshot size.It is a great mixture and one that any fan or Elvis or photograph devotee would love to have.

New Alanna Nash book: Alanna Nash's new book, Baby, Let's Play House: Elvis Presley and the Women Who Loved Him, is due out the US in early January 2010. Alanna has told EIN that she is currently making her final corrections to the manuscript and clarified that the alternate listing on Amazon UK (Elvis and His Women, 320 pages) was based on a preliminary title for the release and before the final number of pages was known. The actual page number is a mammoth 704 pages!
Alanna also had this to say about Baby, Let's Play House: "Even after writing three previous Elvis-related books, I am still astonished by the depth of his story. And in telling it largely through the eyes of the women who knew and loved him, platonically as well as romantically, it nearly takes on a different shape and tone. I have been amazed by that, and gotten to know him better."

Baby, Let's Play House can be pre-ordered from Amazon:
EIN will publish a review of Alanna's eagerly awaited new book in the coming weeks.

Re-issued as The Memphis Record (1987) and subsequently Suspicious Minds: The Memphis 1969 Anthology (1999), in 2009 Sony BMG's Legacy series has issued a masterful 40th anniversary 2CD edition, with stunning remastering work by the legendary Vic Anesini.

EIN presents its massive 7,000 word strong analysis of Elvis' landmark album. With many great visuals from the sessions and informative sidebars, we delve deep into the music, go behind the scenes in the recording studio and discover the many aural delights of this 2009 masterpiece! Read EIN's super-detailed review

Tom Jones' shock at Elvis Presley's gun: Tom Jones was once left shocked when he found Elvis' gun in his dressing room lavatory.
The veteran Welsh singer struck up a close friendship with The King and they would often spend time together when they were in the same city on tour.
But on one occasion, after Jones appeared at Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas, he was stunned to find a silver-plated Colt .45 automatic pistol on his toilet cistern after Presley had used the bathroom. Elvis, of course, had a fascination with guns.
Jones tried to discreetly hand it back, only to see the Jailhouse Rock hitmaker shrug off the incident.
He says, 'I wrapped it up in this towel, took it out and said, very quietly, 'Er, Elvis, you left your gun in the toilet.'
And Elvis just goes: "Aw shit man, ma .45", and stuck it in his belt. I was trying to be very discreet about the whole thing, but he couldn't have cared less.'

George Clooney to produce Elvis related TV cop show: George Clooney is returning to television in a producing role: The Men Who Stare at Goats star and partner Grant Heslov’s Smokehouse Pictures have teamed up with Warner Horizon for the drama pilot Delta Blues which revolves around a quirky Memphis cop by day but Elvis impersonator by night who still lives with mom, according to The Hollywood Reporter. The Clooney and Heslov-executive produced project has been around for a while. TNT added it to its development slate in May 2008. Although this is the first pilot for Smokehouse, Clooney has produced for TV before: improv series K Street and Unscripted on HBO.

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Elvis' hair sells at auction: A clump of hair believed to have been trimmed from Elvis Presley's head when he joined the Army in 1958 has sold for $15,000 at a Chicago auction house. Also among the 200 Elvis-related items up for grabs at the Leslie Hindman Auctioneers inChicago on Sunday was a shirt that once belonged to the King which sold for $52,000.

The buyer of the hair paid $15,000 plus an additional $3,300 in auction house fees.

Other items on offer included scarves, photos from the reception of Presley's 1967 wedding to Priscilla, Christmas cards he sent and lots of records. Elvis dolls and Elvis Pez dispensers numbered among the memorabilia. All the items had belonged to the late Gary Pepper, who ran a fan club and was a friend. Pepper, who had cerebral palsy, died in 1980.

EIN's Best of Elvis on YouTube'Update: Back with a sensational 15 new fabulous Elvis VIDEOS - and don't miss out on our six great 'Videos of the Week'; 'I'm Left, Your Right, She's Gone' LIVE, 'Clean Up Your Own Backyard' LIVE 1972, 'Hound Dog' LIVE in Gold Lame, 'Are You Lonesome Tonight' original LIVE, 'Don't Be Cruel' in Tupelo, plus a new edit of 'Home Is Where The Heart Is'. Other delights this week are a funny 'Almost Always True', Elvis on Stage in Indianapolis 1977, as well as Elvis' 1970 complete Houston interview. As EIN always says "Catch them now before they get taken away" ('EIN's Elvis on YouTube', Source:EIN)

Elvis Featured in Monty Python Documentary on IFC: Elvis Presley’s love of the Monty Python comedy films is highlighted in a new documentary titled "Monty Python: Almost the Truth" which airs October 18-23 on IFC. Elvis’ best friend Jerry Schilling sat down with filmmakers to tell stories of Elvis buying out an entire movie theatre to watch a new Monty Python film to his reciting of quotes from the popular British comedy films. Click here to see a sneak peak of the documentary segment about Elvis’ love of Monty Python films that includes and interview with Jerry Schilling.

Ron Brandon - Elvis In Tupelo Interview: Ron Brandon was the 17 year-old radio engineer for Tupelo's WTUP station who actually recorded the interviews and Elvis' famous performance.
After reading an EIN review, radio personality Ron Brandon contacted us asking is we knew the whereabouts of Charlie Watts who conducted the Elvis interviews at Tupelo Fair in 1956. Thanks to EIN contributor Pamela Decker we managed to reunite him with his friend Charlie Watts after 53 years!

EIN's Piers Beagley recently spoke to Ron Brandon to find out more of the incredible story of how this historic Elvis performance happened to be recorded for posterity. Go here to our detailed interview

New FTD Releases: A new of set of three FTDs and some re-issues have been announced for the end of 2009. Besides the titles 'Rockin Across Texas' (CD) and 'The Jungle Room Sessions' (vinyl), fans can expect the 1976 new soundboard"Newhaven '76". 'GOOD TIMES' is also to be released December 7th. Good Times is a 2-disc set in the classic album series. - SEE BELOW FOR FULL DETAILS.

The Rosella Presley Story:Just who was Rosella Presley? Elvis' great, grandmother is a mysterious figure who had 9 or 10 children and apparently never married. Genealogist, Lorina Bolig, author of Ancestors of Elvis Aaron Presley 50 Generations, recently decided to do some serious detective work on Rosella and her family. Scouring through all available documentation from US Census Data to university databases and births, deaths and marriages, Rosella believes she has unlocked many of the mysteries surrounding Rosella. With more twists and turns than an Agatha Christie mystery, read what Lorina discovered about Rosella including evidence of possibly one marriage and a surprise son!Plans for the Elvis Hotel and Vegas Casino have been cancelled: Graceland tycoon Robert FX Sillerman has lost millions in property deals and is getting out of the property business after two failed projects. "I think I have shown conclusively that I am not knowledgeable enough about the real estate business," he said. "I think I should leave it to other people to pursue." His decision comes amid a flurry of lawsuits surrounding the construction of a luxury golf resort on the Caribbean island of Anguilla. The project has failed and is in default on loans and guarantees. "That project has stopped," he said, "I'm not in the real estate business".
"The plans for the Elvis Presley Hotel and Casino have been cancelled, Las Vegas is in a depression and I do not think there will be any need for additional hotel rooms in the city for at least the next five to seven years." Sillerman's best deal may have been in 2005, when he bought American Idol, the talent show that has franchises around the world and tops US TV ratings.

Priscilla Presley set for West End debut: Elvis Presley's ex-wife Priscilla Presley is thinking of performing live on stage for the first time in a comedy play, which is scheduled to take place at London's West End. The 60-year old Presley feels the play may be an interesting opportunity for her to exhibit her versatility as an actress. She has films like The Naked Gun, and The Hayley Wagner to her credit and now she is all set to perform for the first time in front of a live audience.

"I've been offered a fantastic role that can't say too much about, but it's a comedy with a serious message. I've never really done stage before but that's the challenge of being an actress," Contactmusic quoted her, as saying.

Finally, Kurt Russell “Elvis biopic” to see DVD release: After a number of false starts, it appears that finally, the critically acclaimed, although factually strained, “Elvis” from Director, John Carpenter and starring, Kurt Russell, will see a DVD release.

Elvis Unlimited reports that: Shout! Factory is preparing to release to DVD from the Dick Clark Productions vault: the 1979 TV movie Elvis. Under the agreement, Shout! Factory has exclusive U.S. and Canada home entertainment distribution rights.

Elvis, directed by John Carpenter, starred Kurt Russell as Elvis Presley in a biopic of the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll. The film also stars Shelly Winters as Elvis’ mother and Pat Hingle as Col. Tom Parker.

This release is expected in 2010.

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Gordon Stoker is doing OK: Gordon Stoker is recovering well. Gordon had been sick a few months ago but then got a thumbs up to travel to Memphis during Elvis Week for Marion Cocke's chairty dinner at the Peabody. After performing at the dinner, Gordon felt ill. He was admitted to the Baptist Memorial Hospital for a few days. Gordon tells ElvisUnlimited.com exclusively that he is feeling great and enjoying visits from friends and time home with his lovely wife Jean. Gordon just had a visit from country singer, Hank Williams Jr, son of Hank Williams.

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Book News - JAT Publishing going retail!: JAT Publishing has announced an exclusive deal with Music City Distribution. The new Jailhouse Rock book will be distributed solely by Music City Distribution.

They will also handle retail sales once the book is released. The release date for Jailhouse Rock has been moved to mid-November.

Finally look for JAT's four play for 2010 to celebrate its 23rd year with:

Nancy Walters passes away: Nancy Walters of Las Vegas, NV, who acted with Elvis Presley in the movie, "Blue Hawaii", and who was a Christian minister has died. After a long battle with pancreatic cancer, she passed away peacefully in her sleep on September 29. Walters, a former fashion model and "glamour girl" (1958 Deb Star), played the part of a school teacher in charge of students who were touring with Elvis as their guide in "Blue Hawaii".
A few years ago, Nancy was reunited with co-star Darlene Tompkins. Through Darlene, a local Elvis fan couple befriended Nancy and visited her often. Recently, they managed a greeting card mailing campaign that delighted Nancy for many weeks. A world traveler, she especially enjoyed the cards from places she had visited. Nancy remarked once, "Elvis has left me so many friends."

"Elvis 75' Good Rockin' Tonight" new birthday CD: Legacy Recordings is proud to announce the release of Elvis 75 - Good Rockin' Tonight, the ultimate career-spanning collection of seminal recordings by Elvis Presley, in commemoration of the King of Rock & Roll's 75th birthday (January 8, 2010). 'Elvis 75- Good Rockin' Tonight' a four CD, 100 song collection will be available everywhere on Tuesday, December 8.
Elvis 75 - Good Rockin' Tonight runs from "My Happiness," the acetate Elvis himself paid nearly four dollars to record at the Memphis Recording Service on July 18, 1953, a year before signing with Sun Records, to "A Little Less Conversation (JXL Remix)" a posthumous #1 hit for Elvis in the UK, Australia and more than 20 other countries in 2002.
Legacy's release of Elvis 75 - Good Rockin' Tonight kicks off a year-long celebration of the life and music of Elvis Presley, the world's first rock & roll star. The tracklist starts with 'My Happiness', 'That's All Right', 'Blue Moon Of Kentucky', and ends with 'Way Down', 'Unchained Melody' and 'A Little Less Conversation (Remix)'. Click here for full 100 song tracklist details if you need to.

Music producer Shelby Singleton dies in Nashville: Veteran Nashville producer and later owner of SUN Records, Shelby Singleton died last Wednesday from brain cancer. He was 77.
Singleton cut hits like Jeannie C. Riley's 1968 No. 1 country-to-pop crossover "Harper Valley P.T.A." before settling in as owner of the lucrative Sun Records catalog, purchased from founder Sam Phillips in 1969.
The Memphis label recorded timeless rock 'n' roll and country material by his onetime Smash charges Jerry Lee Lewis and Charlie Rich, plus classics by Johnny Cash, Roy Orbison and Carl Perkins, among others.
Transaction proved a goldmine, as Singleton cashed in on a bonanza of LP and CD repackagings and ancillary marketing and licensing of Sun's masters and logo. He even managed to propel four old Sun tracks by Lewis onto the country charts in 1969-70.
While Elvis Presley's Sun masters had been bought by RCA in the 1956 deal that took him to the label, Singleton still capitalized on Presley's Sun tenure by marketing the masked vocalist Orion - real name Jimmy Ellis - as a kind of alternate-universe Elvis.
In a clever marketing move instead of listing Orion's first album on SUN, Singleton printed a question mark. A major commercial succcess was the Jerry Lee Lewis 1978 album Duets (Sun 1011). Charlie Rich genuinely sang along with old vocal tracks of Jerry Lee Lewis on two songs so there was speculation was that Elvis really had duetted on "Save the Last Dance for Me". Elvis' voice in reality was a clever imitation by Jimmy Ellis.
See EIN's Spotlight The Tragic story of Jimmy Ellis / Orion. and Jerry Lee Lewis vs Elvis.

Hubert Griffin - Hubert talks about meeting Elvis when he started school at Humes and visiting Elvis at his home on Audubon Drive.

Armond Morales - Armond was a member of The Imperials. He shares his memories about his times with Elvis.

Bonya McGarrity - Bonya was hired to be a secretary at Graceland by Vernon Presley in the fall of 1961 and talks of her times with Elvis.

Gordon Stoker - Gordon, a member of The Jordanaires, shares his memories of Elvis and recording in the studio with him.

'The Wonder Of You' FTD Review: A lot of Colonel Parker's managerial decisions in Elvis’ career defy logic. When documenting Elvis’ magnificent return to live performances for a world-wide cinema release, why on earth would you make the star performer work two shows a night?
The ‘The Wonder Of You’ features the August 13th Dinner Show Elvis’ last MGM filmed performance. At the five previous shows Elvis had staged some truly spectacular performances for the cameras but there were several key songs that he had still not performed. Recent hits like ‘The Wonder Of You’, ‘Don’t Cry Daddy’ and even ‘In the Ghetto’ needed to be filmed.
However there is the overall feeling that Elvis was tired this night and not particularly enthused. Luckily Vic Anesini has worked some audio magic with this new multi-track remix and turned a tired sounding Elvis performance into another TTWII concert well-worth collecting. Click here to read our detailed review.

‘The Return Of A Prodigy’ IMPORT CD Review: On July 31st 1969 Elvis returned to live concert performances for the first time in 8 years. For the whole sixties decade his energy and enthusiasm had been sapped by a string of low budget movies and old-fashioned management. RCA recorded a series of multi-track concerts, the first of these however was already Elvis’ forty-first performance of the familiar ’69 concert set-list. On Opening Night itself we know that Elvis was excessively nervous and not relaxed enough with his audience to indulge in any on-stage banter. While a soundboard of this opening concert would be an astounding discovery - the reality of hearing Elvis perform at his SIXTH ever Hilton concert is only one-step away and demonstrates just how astounding Elvis was within the first few days of this all-important season. Read our in-depth review of this great the August 3rd Dinner Show here.

NEW BOOKS: The Teenager's Hero publishing company has announced two new books; "Teenager's Hero Vol. 2" and a book on Elvis' June 1973 Tour.

The Press-release: The first one will be the follow up to the acclaimed and much discussed Teenagers’ Hero. The Second will be a different kind of project with focus on the June 1973 tour.

Despite only a small number of the first volume remaining, Rino is producing the second volume dedicated to the second part of 1956. To enhance the experience provided by the first book, whilst being both critic and supporter, we intend the following changes: 200 pages, as 400 pages limited the previous book due to expensive mailing cost.
* Hardcover and Full Colour book as requested by many people
* Improved quality of the photos used, due to a larger quantity of material available.
* More attention to details to allow the reader to enjoy the text without looking for errors.
The second book is a new collaboration with the big collector Bob Rush, Rush’s big collection of Elvis’ photo’s from 1973 to 1977 gave us the idea and the possibility to plan the pressing of a book of the June 1973 tour certainly the best moment of Elvis in 1973. Lastly the book will keep the same size and characteristics previously listed for the teen second volume, but will be a more ordinary photo book with more of 150 rare photos of the tour. We are yet to set the pressing date whilst both are still being worked on by the author. We will keep you updated with book layout and other details in the coming months.
Inside the web-site we post within the month all details possible to give a more complete preview of both books. Teenagers’ Hero Vol.1 is still available to order on the web or through your usual dealer, if you don’t yet have don’t miss the opportunity!Read EIN's review of "Teenager's Hero Vol. 1"

Elvis tumbles down list of Top Earning Dead Celebrities: While it was no surprise that Michael Jackson surpassed Elvis on this year's Forbes list of the Top Earning Dead Celebrities, Elvis placing at #4 was a surprise as were the top two positions:
Yves Saint Laurent was the highest-earning dead celebrity last year, making $350 million (£213 million), according to the annual list compiled by Forbes.com.
The fashion designer was followed by the composers Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein with $235 million, and Michael Jackson at $90 million.* Elvis Presley, who has topped the list seven times since its creation in 2001, was fourth with $55 million.
Matthew Miller, the editor of the list, forecast that Jackson would rise in the coming year. “He will make tens of millions because he has lucrative publishing rights and rights to all his memorabilia,” he said. The rankings assess the earning power of dead celebrities, including musicians, authors, actors and songwriters.

'Love Me Tender: The Love Songs' the EIN DVD Review: The publicity states that, 'Love Me Tender: The Love Songs', hosted by Golden Globe-nominated actress Ashley Judd, is the first-ever in-depth look at the love songs of Elvis. It also states that, "Love Me Tender is Elvis as you’ve never seen him."

EIN's Piers Beagley finds it hard to believe that this documentary could really be so revealing. He discovers The Good, The Bad and The Disappointments within this mainstream DVD release.

covering South America, North America, the far east, Middle East, Europe and Australasia.

We also feature an ultra rare and unusual film poster from Israel, one of the rare "Miltary" posters used for films screened on miltary bases and

two Italian posters for Kid Galahad where the emphasis is on co-star Charles Bronson rather than the amusingly named "Elvy Presley".

Freddy Bienstock EIN interview: Freddy Bienstock, a prominent music publishing executive who had a long association with Elvis Presley as his designated song screener, died on September 20th 2009 at his home in Manhattan. He was 86.
Bienstock’s job was to not only find Elvis high quality material but also to maximize income for his employer - and songwriters were often pressured to forfeit a large portion of their royalties to Hill & Range, - “the Elvis tax”.

Far too many of Elvis' associates are leaving this mortal coil and author Ken Sharp was very lucky that he managed to interview Freddie Bienstock back in 2006 for his FTD book 'Writing For The King'.

From ELVIS WEEK 2009, two exclusive specials that you may have missed.

Forever Elvis - A commemorative Spotlight:Elvis touched the soul of every true fan and that hot August night in 1977 the fans returned the love. The funeral for the famous musician stopped the city. Thousands of people packed the streets, sharing their grief and love for the man who was gone. They followed the casket, which was festooned with flowers, and then, together, started singing one of the musician's most popular songs. Never before had so many voices joined in glorious harmony.... There is a universality to grief. Just as mourners in Milan did back in 1901 as they joined together to sing one of Verdi's signature tunes, so too in August 1977 did people gather from all over the world at the gates of Graceland to mourn over their lost idol.

Ernst Jørgensen talks with EIN about 'From Elvis In Memphis': Recently EIN ran a 7,000 word review on the 'From Elvis In Memphis' 2009 Sony Legacy release. At last Elvis' powerful, creative musical statement had been given the respect that it was due. This is the Elvis album that should stand on hallowed ground along with the all-time classics of The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Pink Floyd etc..

Ernst Jorgensen was the producer of this special release and EIN's Piers Beagley was keen to ask a few questions about the finer details. Ernst also discusses the importance of the Mono versions, as well as the possibility of future Elvis Legacy projects.

- Note that all this month's E-Alert images are by ace designer Piretos.

'Dayton Reloaded' new Deluxe release: From the producers of the INTERNATIONAL label and DAE comes this first BOXCAR label release focusing on Elvis’ tours of 1974.
The 2 CD set features both the afternoon and evening performances of October 6, 1974 at the University of Dayton Arena in Dayton, Ohio. The recording source used for this release is taken directly from the original soundboard tapes and is professionally remastered by DAE for optimum sound quality.
The accompanying lavish hardback 100 page glossy book, features a well detailed essay on the tours of 1974 proceeding up to October, (and including 1956) and is packed, with rare and unpublished photographs and unpublished documents. Dayton Reloaded will be presented in exactly the same deluxe box format as the sold-out release 'Internationale 1971'.
Stunning quality audio, unpublished photos, coupled with a beautiful art layout all make this a fascinating audio/visual release. Released October.Click here for more info & full promo images.

Elvis singing for Lisa - By Piretos creations

It's now official - upcoming Cirque du Soleil Elvis show is called.......Viva ELVIS:

As we reported several months ago the new Cirque du Soleil Elvis show is Viva ELVIS.

The title was officially announced today.

The show is due to open in December 2009 at the ARIA Resort and Casino in Las Vegas.

Viva ELVIS, a harmonious fusion of dance, acrobatics and live music, is a tribute to the life and music of Elvis Presley. Nostalgia, modernity and raw emotion provide the backdrop for his immortal voice and the exhilaration and beauty of his music.

Created in the image of The King of Rock ‘n’ Roll – powerful, sexy, whimsical, truly unique and larger than life – the show highlights an American icon who transformed popular music and whose image embodies the freedom, excitement and turbulence of his era.

Significant moments in his life – intimate, playful and grandiose – blend with the timeless songs that remain as relevant today as when they first hit the top of the charts. Viva ELVIS focuses on the essential humanity of the one superstar whose name will forever be linked with the history of Las Vegas and the entire world of entertainment: Elvis Presley. Click here to watch a video of the cast learning the new name of the show on a trip to Graceland. Click here to find out more about Viva ELVIS.

Elvis kissing Priscilla.

If There Can Be Only One King, Let It Be Elvis: I thought about all the news covered the last few weeks, Michael Jackson, Walter Cronkite, Karl Malden, news from India, Germany, Mercedes, and ridiculous stories like the one about Erin Andrews. But lets face it, one of the truly great things about having a voice is to be able to say what you want, at least in the digital age. What I want to talk about in this article is the unequivocal king of celebrity, Elvis Presley – the king of Rock and Roll.
Okay, you detractors out there, the Michael Jackson fans, the Rappers and U2 fans, just let me take you back to a place where someone extraordinary even among celebrities and heroes did the very best PR job anyone ever will. How is that you say? Well, Elvis Presley pretty much made celebrity what it is today. Was it just raw talent that did it? Decidedly not. Was it that talent and charisma interjected at the right time and place? Possibly. I think it was all these things and something a little more special than the “luck” these things imply. I urge you to just scan Elvis’ Wikipedia biography if you have any doubts after reading this.

Sitting here wondering how to craft such a deep and impactful story in itself is staggering. I had trouble trying to put together the right words to express Michael Jackson at his unfortunate death, just how do you paint a picture in words of someone even more impressive and legendary (sorry if this diminished Michael or anyone else)? Perhaps the best way is to express the feelings of untold generations, and then to show some images and video. This will not do it I know, but unless the reader has a mind to do time travel, it may be the only way.

People now can only have an inkling of understanding about Elvis and the time he came from. Artists today actually bask in the light of successes an industry he helped create shines on them. Everyone from the Beatles, to the “King Pop” Michael Jackson, revered Elvis. There is no comparing these artists really. But if we have to measure them, if there has to be one king, then Elvis Presley was and is it. No other figure in entertainment really comes close. Elvis has been inducted into 4 different music genre Halls of Fame. No other artist ever, crossed not only artistic genres, but socio-economic, International, age, gender, or a multitude of others. It was sad to lose this wonderful spirit at the age of only 42, imagine it.

“For those too young to have experienced Elvis Presley in his prime, today’s celebration of the 25th anniversary of his death must seem peculiar. All the talentless impersonators and appalling black velvet paintings on display can make him seem little more than a perverse and distant memory. But before Elvis was camp, he was its opposite: a genuine cultural force… Elvis’ breakthroughs are under appreciated because in this rock-and-roll age, his hard-rocking music and sultry style have triumphed so completely.” – The New York Times

"All for you Mama"

'TUPELO WELCOMES HOME ELVIS PRESLEY' CD/Book: This release as a Special CD Collectors Edition featuring the two homecoming from TupeloMississippi recorded on the 26th September 1956, with rare interviews and a bonus interview with Elvis from Tupelo 1957 never before released on CD .

Also included is a 40 page hardback glossy book packed with rare photographs, informative text from this event and includes recently acquired new information on the recording of these concerts by Ron Brandon. Text is provided by Roy Turner and Ron Brandon.

New FTD ELVIS CD Releases: A new of set of three FTDs and some re-issues have been announced for late October. Besides the titles 'Rockin Across Texas' (CD) and 'The Jungle Room Sessions' (vinyl), fans can expect the 1976 new soundboard "Newhaven '76".
According to Elvis Matters both the "Blue Hawaii" and "Standing Room Only" vinyl releases will also be back in stock by October 1st but for a limited period only. Both will be officially deleted once this stock is depleted.
And from an update from EU the "Girl Happy" CD should now be in reprint and will soon be available with improved remastered audio with improved and updated graphics!

'NEW HAVEN ‘76': Following on from his appearance in Fort Worth, Elvis rocked New Haven, Connecticut on July 30 at the Veterans’ Memorial Coliseum. Featuring photos from Steve Barile’s archives, New Haven ’76 is a 1-CD 5” digipack.
A credible live version of Return To Sender is featured as a bonus track from Hampton Roads Coliseum on August 1, 1976.

ROCKIN’ ACROSS TEXAS, This will be released in October as a 2-CD 5” set. It features Elvis live in Amarillo, Texas at the Civic Center, June 19, 1974 and Fort Worth, Texas at the Tarrant County Convention Center, Recorded July 3, 1976.

This CD only version contains the same content as featured in the acclaimed FTD book that is now deleted.

GOOD TIMES: to be released December 7th Godd Times is a 2-disc set in the classic album series. Originally released in 1974, this great album featured the legendary “Good Time Charlie’s Got The Blues”, “My Boy” and “I’ve Got A Thing About You Baby”. In addition to the masters, it will contain many great outtakes from the Stax Sessions of 1973. The package features the 7” inch digipack format with 12-page booklet.
The full tracklisting will follow.

provides details of how readers can obtain one of the last remaining copies of this long, out-of-print, Elvis collectible.

Elvis had a major interest in the subject of unidentiofied flying objects and Guyll and Vaculig noticed something striking about one of Elvis' concert belts. What they noticed led them to explore the issue of Elvis and UFO's and finally resulted in one of the most thought provoking Elvis books ever written.

Read what Dan Guyll has to say and learn more about one of Elvis' largely ignored interests and the intriguing idea of Elvis and alien abductions!